IBM Smarter Cities Solutions Go Live in South Carolina, Arkansas

The IBM Curam solution, the major component to South Carolina’s new eligibility system, is part of IBM’s Smarter Cities portfolio. These capabilities make access to government services easier for the citizen. Several other states, including Maryland and Minnesota, also have chosen IBM for similar initiatives.
Meanwhile, IBM also announced that the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) will roll out an IBM Smarter Cities solution as part of the state’s plan to modernize how it delivers social and healthcare services to citizens.
The new system will feature big data analytics, social program management functionality and advanced security capabilities and is designed to reduce processes that exist across numerous and disparate information silos.
“This will be DHS’ first step in transforming an IT infrastructure that is composed of more than 30 discrete system silos in an aging architecture,” said Dick Wyatt, CIO of the Arkansas DHS organization, in a statement. “Having a total view of our clients in one application — using the latest technology — will provide DHS with the ability to better manage the services provided. In addition, it will give DHS the ability to react more timely and efficiently to the many changes that are occurring and will continue to occur in the human services and healthcare arena.”

Arkansas DHS is beginning an enterprise modernization initiative with a service-oriented architecture to integrate all DHS programs, and relevant programs from other departments, into one re-useable and scalable platform. The new system will support a variety of the state’s social programs, including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Over time, the state plans to integrate social programs across multiple agencies.

The IBM-enabled system gives Arkansas citizens a single point of access in determining their benefits eligibility without having to know all the details on all the programs available to them. Moreover, citizens will only need to share information about a change of circumstances once regardless of how many benefits programs they participate in, IBM said.
“Arkansas will be enabled to more effectively and efficiently deliver social programs ensuring that citizens get access to the right services at the right time,” IBM’s Hayman said in a statement. “In IBM, the state can benefit from our deep healthcare industry expertise combined with an ability to apply that knowledge with Big Data analytics solutions that are secure and maximize existing technology investments.”
IBM’s Curam Social Program Management Platform also powers the new Arkansas system. The state is also deploying Cognos business intelligence software, Tivoli security solutions, DB2, Infosphere and Rational capabilities. All the software will run on IBM Power Systems.